Orlando
Philip Maymin
Basketball News Services
There were three double-doubles in last night's Orlando-Atlanta game and they were all by Magic players. Steve Francis led the way with 30 points and 10 assists, and was just four-rebounds shy of a triple-double, and just two steals and three blocks shy of a five-by-five. Dwight Howard and Grant Hill were the other double-doubles with 17 and 16 points, and 11 and 10 rebounds, respectively. The Magic beat Atlanta 109-102to win for the first time in four games and now trail the Sixers by two games for the final playoff spot.
The New Jersey Nets are right on their toes, just a half game behind the Magic. The two teams will meet on Saturday in New Jersey and it's almost certain that the loser of that game will be back to New Jersey in the summer for the lottery. The winner might be there as well, depending on how Philadelphia continues to play.
The Magic have a tough schedule ahead of them if they want to make the playoffs. Nine of their remaining twelve games are against opponents that are currently in the playoff picture. But if Francis can continue both to score with reckless abandon and set up his teammates to the tune of ten assists a game, they have a shot, despite their recent struggles of getting into the postseason.
NEXT GAME
The Magic (33-37, third in the Southeast) host the Toronto Raptors (29-40, fourth in the Atlantic) tomorrow night, Wednesday, March 30th. The game starts at 7:0pm Eastern and will be broadcast on Sun Sports, Raptors TV, and NBA League Pass.
TEAM NOTES
Check out Orlando's postgame quotes.
INJURY UPDATE
Hedo Turkoglu(wrist) is on the injured list and out for the remainder of the season.Doug Christie(ankle) is out indefinitely.Andrew DeClercq (knee) is on the injured list.Jameer Nelson(ribs) will be re-evaluated today.
Brian Schmitz ofThe Orlando Sentinelwrites: When it was suggested to Atlanta Hawks guard Tyronn Lue that he must have sold his soul to win an NBA ring, he laughed."Seems like it, doesn't it?" he said. Lue won a title when he played for the L.A. Lakers in 2001. Since then, he has played for two of the NBA's worst teams the past two seasons: The Hawks and the Magic. The Hawks' loss to the Magic on Monday night was the 100th defeat that Lue has endured since the beginning of last season.
Brian Schmitz ofThe Orlando Sentinelwrites: The Orlando Magic can't even get through a rare easy victory without losing something or other.Lost during Monday night's 109-102 triumph over the hapless, hopeless Atlanta Hawks was another key player. Rookie point guard Jameer Nelson left the game late in the first quarter, clutching his midsection. He jogged immediately into the dressing room and did not return. According to the Magic, Nelson strained cartilage near his ribcage toward the middle of his chest.
Tim Povtak ofThe Orlando Sentinelwrites: It was the first time in six weeks that Francis scored at least 30 points -- responding to a team in desperate need of a turnaround -- but the 11th time this season.The Magic are 8-3 in games in which Francis has scored at least 30. He also scored 30 or more in victories against the Pistons, Sonics, Wizards and Cavaliers, all teams headed for the playoffs. "We've got to play every single game now like it's a playoff game, like it could be our last," Francis said. "We're going to need help from some of those ahead of us, but hopefully, this game will start something."